In this guide, I will be going over some of the best Super Nintendo games which are still a lot of fun to play today. The Super Nintendo is a console I had from launch and over the years, has provided me with almost endless hours of entertainment. This list is meant to serve as a guide of sorts to try to convince you to play some of these classic games. This is part 2 of the list, I recommend checking out part 1 first which you can find here.
Final Fantasy V (With translation patch)
Final Fantasy V sadly never saw an official English release on the Super Nintendo which is a real shame as it’s probably one of the best RPGs of all time. Final Fantasy V always seems to be overshadowed by others in the series like VI & VII which I am guessing is partially because of the inability to play it, hence the lack of nostalgia.
Why does Final Fantasy V hold up today?
Final Fantasy V took the job system that worked so in previous entries and goes wild with it. Each character can have one of 26 different Job types along with sub-jobs. This makes for an insane amount of customization and lets you build your party just how you would like.
The Story is great, as always with a Final Fantasy game and has quite the plot-twist midway through the game. The character (and enemy) sprites are animated in this entry than the previous and each character even has a range of facial emotions that are a first for the series.
How to play Final Fantasy V Today?
Final Fantasy V has had a few releases over the years, there’s the original Super Famicom release which, in my opinion, is the best way to experience the game. To play this in English you’ll need to patch the game. There’s also a fantastic port of this to the GBA which adds some extra content, however, the music is compressed.
You can either play a patched version on original hardware using something like the SD2SNES flash cart or pick up a copy of the GBA version to play on a GBA SP. Both versions can be played via MiSTer also. Finally, there’s the PS1 version of the game that came as part of Final Fantasy Anthology, I would recommend avoiding this version if possible, as loading times are terrible!
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Before the PlayStation existed, Squaresoft and Nintendo used to work closely together releasing games a ton of games from Final Fantasy to Chrono Trigger. Squaresoft became such experts at crafting these fantastic RPGs that Nintendo trusted them with their biggest franchise, Mario.
Why does Super Mario RPG hold up today?
Super Mario RPG is a great RPG and its DNA can be felt in the Mario and Luigi series, along with Paper Mario which both borrow some elements from it. The story starts off with the typical plot of Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach but soon spirals into something completely different.
Be sure to give this game a try if you want to experience a unique and rewarding battle system with some great humour along the way. If you’re a fan of the Mario and Luigi series, you’ll love this.
How to play Super Mario RPG Today?
The easiest way to play Super Mario RPG today is on the Nintendo Switch Online SNES app. Other options would include MiSTer FPGA or on real hardware but be warned this game is super expensive.
Super Castlevania IV
Castlevania made its way onto the Super Nintendo and supposedly is a soft reboot of the series according to Koji Igarashi, however, Konami assured US gamers that this was indeed a sequel which they then later seemed to go quiet on the matter. Either way, it’s a great game in its own right and really showed off what the Super Nintendo could do. SCVI showed a prominent use of mode 7 rotation and sprite scaling also.
Why does Super Castlevania IV hold up today?
Super Castlevania IV maintains all the good elements from the NES games while adding more unique mechanics like the ability to control your whip in numerous directions, difficulty seemed to be somewhat dumbed down a little while still providing a challenge. Character and enemy sprites are now much bigger, but the movement feels more refined. This is a great example of how classic Castlevania played before it started to take on the more non-linear approach of the layer games in the series.
How to play Super Castlevania IV Today?
You can play Super Castlevania as part of the Castlevania Anniversary collection on Switch or play it on the original hardware. MiSTer FPGA is also a great way to experience this game.
Final Fantasy VI (aka FFIII)
Known as Final Fantasy III in the US, Final Fantasy VI released and dashed peoples hopes of ever getting Final Fantasy V localized, the small number of people who knew of it anyways. You see, so many people didn’t even about the existence of Final Fantasy II & V! it’s all very confusing! Luckily, the Final Fantasy series are all standalone games.
Why does Final Fantasy VI hold up today?
You may have noticed there are a low of RPGs on this list, it’s one of the genres that the SNES excelled at and Final Fantasy VI is considered by some to be the best RPG of all time and I can see why.
RPGs are somewhat timeless, it’s not all about the graphics and action, it’s about system’s, storylines, and great music. That doesn’t mean that Final Fantasy VI is a slouch in the graphics department, far from it, the game looks great but it’s done in a way that has stood the test of time. I played through this game not too long ago and it was just as engaging as it was all those years ago.
How to play Final Fantasy VI Today?
Final Fantasy VI is available to play on the SNES Classic, Original hardware and MiSTer. There’s a fantastic port to the GBA which adds extra content while slightly suffering from a little music compression. Finally, there’s the PlayStation version which I wouldn’t really recommend due to long loading times, but it does add in some nice looking FMVs!
Mega Man X
Mega Man X is a subseries offshoot from the classic Mega Man games while retaining a lot of what made the classics feel so go to play. Mega Man X was so popular that it branched off into its own series and still looks and plays great today.
Why does Mega Man X hold up today?
Mega Man X has a firm but fair difficulty, unlike some of its NES predecessors which tended to be semi-sadistic. The platforming here in X is fun, the weapon upgrades are great and the music, of course, is outstanding. The Non-linear nature of Mega Man X works great, and each level is distinctive and makes great use of colour. It really is a great entry point for the series.
How to play Mega Man X Today?
Mega Man X can be played on a lot of different systems, the most accessible way at the moment is via the Mega Man X Legacy collection. Other options would include playing through an FPGA like MiSTer or original Super Nintendo hardware.
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
When Donkey Kong Country released it redefined how 2D platforming could look. Not only did it have these semi-realistic 3D character graphics, but it also had some solid gameplay. After the Success of DKC along came this great sequel. Diddy’s Kong Quest was essentially more Donkey Kong Country while adding a few mechanics and refining the overall gameplay.
Why does Donkey Kong Country 2 hold up today?
Any of the three Donkey Kong Country games on the Super Nintendo hold up really well. They are just good all-round platformers and can offer quite the challenge in some of the later levels. There’s plenty of collectables to keep you coming back. I’ve chosen to talk about DKC2 as it’s an evolution of the first game, the third game introduces slightly more In terms of mechanics but falls a little flat in comparison in my opinion.
How to play Donkey Kong Country 2 Today?
The best way to play DKC2 in my opinion is on real hardware, connected to a CRT! (It’s how I vividly remember playing it). MiSTer FPGA is also a viable option.
Secret of Mana
Another RPG, well technically an Action Role Playing Game. Squaresoft once again produces yet another classic game for the Super Nintendo. Secret of Mana ditches the classic turn-based battles and instead opts for a more action-oriented style of combat, while still retaining a charging meter for attacks. This colourful, top-down adventure often gets glossed over by people who prefer Final Fantasy or Chrono Trigger and it’s criminally underrated.
Why does Secret of Mana hold up today?
Secret of Mana has a unique combat system that still holds up very well today. The graphics, music and story are all very good and there was even a recent remaster of sorts, however, the SNES version is the version you will want to play. It’s packed with charm and will keep you entertained for hours!
How to play Secret of Mana Today?
Original hardware is a great way to experience this ARPG, but another great way to play this game is via the recently released Collection of Mana, Square has done a really good job with this port. And of course, MiSTer is also a perfectly viable option.
Earthbound (Mother 2)
Earthbound, known as Mother 2 is a top-down RPG with a cute art style and absolutely full to the brim with humour and weirdness. It’s such a strange game it almost feels like a parody, but it’s consistent with its ‘feeling’ the whole way through the game which makes for an enjoyable and unique adventure.
Why does Earthbound hold up today?
Earthbound blends elements of the RPG genre with other elements from genres like point and click and even games like Rouge. You examine items and communicate with people via a contextual menu. I won’t spoil the story here but let’s just say, it’s quite the adventure. If you are a seasoned RPG fan, you’ll enjoy just how crazy Earthbound is. It almost feels like a subversion of the genre itself and It’s hard to explain how good it is without actually seeing it for yourself. Go play Earthbound!
How to play Earthbound Today?
Earthbound is available on the SNES classic, MiSTer or original SNES hardware if you don’t mind bankrupting yourself to pick up a copy! There’s a GBA port available out there but you’ll have to find one that’s been patched in English as it’s Japanese only (Unless you read Japanese, of course).
Chrono Trigger
The final RPG on this list. Chrono Trigger is fantastic, this game really needs a remake. Like badly. Numerous publications have scored this game a 10/10 and I am inclined to agree with them. This game was conceived by what I would argue is the dream team of RPG creators. Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy served as the game’s designer, Yuji Horii the creator of Dragon Quest did some of the games writing with Akira Toriyama dealing with games art style. Even Nobuo Uematsu lent his talents to the project along with Yoshinori Kitase who has produced so many Final Fantasy games!
Why does Chrono Trigger hold up today?
Chrono Trigger is a timeless classic, which I guess could be a pun on the theme of the game itself, Time-travel. The pacing of the story is perfect but somewhat breezy, you won’t be putting in 80 hours plus like a Dragon Quest game and it doesn’t outstay its welcome. The combat system is top-notch and the presentation is outstanding for a SNES game, it really goes to show what the pinnacle of a 16-bit RPG can be. Chrono Trigger was one of the first game that I remember overtly featuring unlockable different endings and also the first game I remember to have a New Game Plus.
How to play Chrono Trigger Today?
Chrono Trigger is quite expensive now, but I do think the SNES version is one of the best ways to experience it. There have been a few ports of Chrono Trigger including PlayStation, Steam and the Nintendo DS, if I had to pick one, I would choose the DS version, I have heard it’s slightly reworked and sticks a little more closer to Japanese script in its localization.
